Frank delighted for Burnley but does not regret moving north

FRANK McPARLAND insists he felt no regret about swapping Burnley for Rangers when he watched the Turf Moor club regain their place in the super-rich English Premier League. McParland left his post as sporting director in Lancashire last November to be reunited with Mark Warburton and David Weir following their previous time together at Brentford. His key signings for Burnley, including Rangers target Joey Barton and 25-goal striker Andre Gray, ultimately helped Sean Dyche’s side finish top of the Championship. They will now have access to immense wealth, as even the team finishing bottom of the top flight next season is expected to bank around £100million in television and prize money. Such figures are unimaginable in Scotland but McParland still sees wider potential at Ibrox. ‘Did I have any second thoughts? Not at all,’ he said. ‘I remember my missus saying we should open a bottle of champagne when Burnley went up. ‘It was great to be a part of it for five or six months. They got promoted as champions. We (Rangers) got promoted as champions. ‘But I never look back. This is the next step in my life. I would love to be involved here when we are in the Champions League. ‘Realistically, are Burnley going to be in the Champions League? People said the same about Leicester, so you can never say never but it is going to be difficult. ‘Here, if we can get the players in we want, with Warbs and David working hard on the training pitch, I think we have a chance.’ That three-way relationship is key when it comes to pursuing their preferred signing targets this summer. ‘I have my own network,’ added McParland (above). ‘I know a lot of people in the game, as do the gaffer and David. ‘Between the three of us, we look at a lot of games — be it live or on the computer. We don’t have a committee. The three of us just sit down or if it’s a goalkeeper, then Jim Stewart is heavily involved. ‘I will look at any information first because I know inside out what the gaffer wants. ‘Then David will normally look at it. Sometimes he will say no but most of the time he will say yes. Only if that happens does it get to the manager. ‘Unless the three of us are really keen on

it, then it doesn’t go forward.’